The online casino industry has made itself comfortably at home in the United Kingdom. As recent as 2022-2023, the revenue numbers were soaring at £6.5 billion. And this figure is expected to hit double-digits once the curtain comes down on the year 2024. The projected increase to £10.84 billion proves that the success of the practice in the UK is not slowing down, despite the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the UK government implementing stricter rules on online gambling.

This has mainly affected online slots, with wagering limits imposed on that particular game, while “frictionless” financial background checks will be triggered for players that incur large losses. The two restrictions have made headlines and divided opinion amongst the online casino playing community. The results of the tests, due to be published in March or April 2025, will determine which direction the regulators decide to go in with regards to either retaining the restrictions, or even implementing more limitations.

Image:Pexels.com 

What happened to bonus buy slots?

With the findings of the two pilot projects to be revealed next year, speculation in the UK could turn to what measures might be introduced next. One aspect of online casino play that could return to conversation are bonus buy slots. This popular bonus, which effectively allows players of online slots games to buy a pass and skip straight to bonus rounds, was banned in 2019 in an attempt to protect players with gambling issues. As with any new regulation, there was mixed reaction from the industry with a section of players sympathising with the new rule. However, other players were critical of the new law, arguing that their freedoms in game play were being limited.

The bonus buy function proved a popular inclusion in game play when it was introduced in 2017, as players could gain greater rewards faster. While there might be a majority of online slots players that are in control of their gambling habits, it is those that are not so fortunate that the regulatory bodies decided to protect when the feature was banned in 2019.

Reaction elsewhere

The topic of bonus buy slots has not only been discussed in the UK. The online casino market is already influencing countries all over the world with many governments and regulatory bodies passing legislation to fully legalise the activity. Countries from Brazil, to Germany, to Australia are currently thriving financially from the legalisation of online casino play. One market though that has also been vocal on the subject of bonus buy games is Sweden. In February 2024, a survey was conducted to assess whether bonus buy games should be banned or not.

The survey, conducted by Play ‘n Go, showed that 55% of online slots players in Sweden were in favour of banning bonus buy games. The thinking behind this was that bonus buy games were more of a risk for players, and could incur higher losses, or even lead players to chase losses with the prospect of greater reward. The majority of 55% in Sweden proves that there is only a narrow divide within the country on the bonus buy topic. Those on the other side of the fence argue that players in control of their online gambling and finances should not be punished for the activity of others.

For regulators currently debating this subject, and for those who will potentially encounter it in the future, there is a difficult balance to find, between restricting player’s playing liberties, or protecting the section of players at risk. The concept of control is also difficult to define with each player commanding unique circumstances. Should the Swedish regulators act similarly to those in the UK, they could also lean towards the safer option and ban bonus buy games. Those against will argue that they are being robbed of a key benefit of online slots game play.

Bonus buy benefits still felt by many

However, despite the fact the legislation on bonus buys has been in place for over five years, the feature remains popular amongst players in the UK, and 45% of the Swedish playing population. The ability to achieve greater rewards by skipping to bonus rounds is the overarching advantage, but these rounds also tend to be more exciting than the rounds leading up to bonus play. Furthermore, with more games including more complex storylines and rounds in the game play, the prospect of advancing further, more quickly, is also an exciting one for players who potentially have less time to spend on online casino platforms.

Image:Pexels.com

Alternative options

For those players in the UK in favour of bonus buy slots, and those that consider themselves more in control of their online gambling, there is an array of non-UK casinos that players in the UK can still access to play on bonus buy slots UK. These online casinos are not regulated by the UKGC, and therefore are not licensed by them. Therefore, the same precautions when playing on any new online casino need to be taken. Checks need to be carried out to confirm the licensing of the online platform to ensure the provider is offering the most secure and fair game play possible.

What next for bonus buy slots in the UK?

With much of the conversation currently being dominated by wagering limits and background checks, the topic of bonus buy games seems to have been shelved for the time being. Despite being further advanced in the online casino market, the UK regulators are constantly facing new challenges around online casino play. With a harder, more invisible presence to try and police, we could see legislation further adapted in the future to provide the safest environment for all players. For now, it is a case of watching this space.